Monarch Pass, Monarch, Colorado USA

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I had drove from Pueblo, Colorado, West on US Hwy 50 toward my camp in the Gunnison National Forest. Since it was dark I turned into the national forest for a legal emergency camp.

The next morning I woke up at my camp in the San Isabel National Forest, East of the Continental Divide. Near the divide I made a brief detour to see Old Monarch Pass on FS 237. Then I drove to the divide at Monarch Pass for a photo shoot. They had a store there and also a ski lift. I made a careful drive down the mountain chain to my first planned camp in the Gunnison NF.

Discussion: I had planned my vacation camping trip to last five weeks. Since they had a major snowstorm in Colorado before I departed from Nacogdoches, Texas; I sped up my pace so as not be caught on the mountain dirt trails in a major snowstorm that may not be cleared until spring. I had a wonderful adventure with my four week travel campout survival test.

completed

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Photos

Old Monarch Pass trail
San Isabel NF trail 237

Old Monarch Pass top
Continental Divide

Monarch Pass
Monarch store

Monarch Pass
Monarch store